Best NordVPN Alternatives 2024 (Top 10 Similar Competitors)

Last Updated:Friday, January 12, 2024
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NordVPN is a number one virtual private network provider, but are there any great NordVPN competitors? The answer is yes, there are many.

This article will take you on the grand tour of the best NordVPN alternatives, and where possible, we’ll point out which Nord replacement is best for your specific purposes, like online privacy, fast internet connection, streaming or gaming.

 

Top 10 NordVPN competitors with similar products

Here are the services like NordVPN that we think are the best NordVPN alternatives. Although they are all fairly similar, some NordVPN competitors will be better suited to your circumstances than others, so read more about the NordVPN competition below.

Product/service

Best for

Pricing

Website

NordVPN

The top fast and secure VPN service provider

$11.99 per month

visit

ExpressVPN

Best NordVPN alternative overall

$12.95 per month 

visit

Tunnelbear

Best free NordVPN alternative

$3.33 per month

visit

Surfshark

Most similar to NordVPN

$12.95 per month

visit

Hotspot Shield

Cheaper alternative to NordVPN software if you’re on a budget

$7.99 per month

visit

IPVanish

Top NordVPN replacement for online privacy

$10.99 per month

visit

Private Internet Access

Great NordVPN substitute for streaming services

$11.95 per month

visit

ProtonVPN

Good NordVPN competitor if you want fast speeds

$9.99 per month

visit

A lot of these amazing Nord competitors are generally considered to be part of the best VPN group too, and you can read about them as well.

 

Here’s our full list of the best NordVPN alternatives 2024:

Now, before you dive headlong into the descriptions for the best NordVPN alternatives, it’s a good idea to know a little bit about our baseline VPN app: Nord. You can check out any number of great articles which take on a NordVPN review or just read on.

Here are ten good alternatives to NordVPN:
 

1. ExpressVPN (Best NordVPN alternative overall)

Many of the lists which rank the best virtual private network apps put ExpressVPN near or at the top. There are also many reviews where ExpressVPN is rated as better than NordVPN.

It certainly is the best alternative to NordVPN overall, as they can go toe-to-toe for many of their features and functionality. 

ExpressVPN is best for:

  • Individuals

  • Streaming services

  • Gaming

  • Torrenting

Features

Apps: ExpressVPN offers apps for Mac, Windows PC, Android, iOS, Router VPN, Chrome VPN extension, and smart TVs for Netflix and chill. 

Number of devices: You can use ExpressVPN on 5 devices with simultaneous connections.

Servers: ExpressVPN has high-speed servers in almost 100 countries.

Encryption and protocols: Uses AES-256-bit encryption for online security. Protocols include OpenVPN, Lightway, and IKEv2.

Data: You get unlimited bandwidth when using ExpressVPN.

Features: ExpressVPN features and tools include IP address masking, split tunneling, kill switch, a threat manager to handle malware, private DNS, a password manager, a no-logs policy, and speed tests. 

Customer support: There is 24-hour live chat and email customer support.

Payment options: Credit card, PayPal, Bitcoin, and more.

Pricing

  • ExpressVPN is $12.95 per month

  • $6.67 per month billed annually with three free months

  • $9.99 per month billed every six months

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Visit ExpressVPN 
 

2. Tunnelbear (Best free NordVPN alternative)

Our next NordVPN competitor is Tunnelbear. Tunnelbear is very popular because it is one of the best free NordVPN alternatives, and even the premium versions are very affordable when it comes to protecting your online identity. 

Tunnelbear is best for:

  • Free VPN

  • Personal use

  • Ease of use

Features

Apps: Tunnelbeat has apps for Mac, Windows, iPhone and iPad, Android, browser extension for Chrome and Firefox, and there is a standalone ad blocker app for Chrome.

Number of devices: As long as you are not using the free VPN, Tunnelbear lets you use it on an unlimited number of devices with consistent fast speeds.

Servers: There are Tunnelbear VPN server locations in over 45 countries. 

Encryption and protocols: Like most of the best VPN services, Tunnelbear uses AES-256 encryption. As for protocols, it has IKEv2, OpenVPN, and IPSec/IKEv2, as well as WireGuard, more recently.

Data: With Tunnelbear, you get 500 MBs of data. 

Features: Tunnelbear also offers security features like vigilante mode which is like a kill switch, a strict no-logs policy to wipe the data from your internet traffic, and a quick connect feature called a closest tunnel.

Customer support: Tunnelbear has a good knowledge base with community support that has pro Tunnelbvear support staff. 

Payment options: Credit card only.

Pricing

  • TunnelBear has a free VPN plan

  • Unlimited plan is $3.33 per month

  • Teams plan is $5.75 per month

Visit TunnelBear 
 

3. Surfshark (Most similar to NordVPN)

Comparing Surfshark vs NordVPN regularly returns the results that Surfshark is very similar to NordVPN as substitutes for one another. 

Surfshark is best for:

  • Personal; VPN

  • Great connection speeds

Features

Apps: Surfshark has apps for MacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Edge, Firefox, and Chrome.

Number of devices: Use Surfshark to get a VPN connection on an unlimited number of devices.

Servers: There are over 3200 VPN servers that Surfshark has installed in server locations in over 100 countries. 

Encryption and protocols: There is standard military-grade AES 256 GCM encryption for total online privacy, and protocols such as WireGuard IKEv2/IPsec and OpenVPN.

Data: Unlimited bandwidth

Features: Clean web mode is an ad blocker and stops malware, trackers, and hackers. There is a bypass or split tunnel feature, automatic kill switch, no logs-policy, DNS leak protection, camouflage mode, and IP changer to stay ahead of your ISP, and a no-borders mode to unblock geo-restricted content or to bypass some firewalls.

Customer support: Email and live chat support 24/7, and you can sometimes talk with a Surfshark expert.

Payment options: Credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, Sofot, and some cryptocurrencies

Pricing

  • Surfshark costs $12.95 per month

  • $3.99 per month on the one-year plan

  • $2.05 per month billed every two years 

  • 30-day money back guarantee

Surfshark review

Visit Surfshark 
 

4. Hotspot Shield (Cheaper alternative to NordVPN software if you’re on a budget)

Hotspot Shield also has a free VPN plan which is good, but for this list, we consider it to be a great substitute for NordVPN if you want a cheaper VPN solution.

Hotspot Shield is best for:

  • Budgets

  • Cheaper VPN solution

  • Online security

  • Torrenting

  • Streaming services

  • Gaming

Features

Apps: There are Windows, Android, iOS, MacOS, Chrome, TV, Linux, and Router apps

Number of devices: Up to 5 devices with simultaneous connections.

Servers: Hotspot Shield has around 3,200 servers in over 80 countries.

Encryption and protocols: They use their own proprietary Hydra protocol with military-grade encryption to secure your online activities.

Data: You get unlimited data.

Features: smart VPN, automatic kill switch, IP leak protection, DNS leak protection, TOR over VPN, traffic obfuscation.

Customer support: 24/7 live chat and email support.

Payment options: Credit card, PayPal.

Pricing

  • Hotspot Shield has a free VPN version

  • Premium costs $7.99 per month billed annually 

  • Family costs $11.99 per month billed annually 

  • 45-day money-back guarantee

Visit Hotspot Shield 
 

5. IPVanish (Top NordVPN replacement for online privacy)

IPVanish is a leading competitor to NordVPN when it comes to online anonymity, protecting your online identity from your ISP. 

IPVanish is best for:

  • IP address masking

  • Private web browsing

  • Public or free wi-fi

Features

Apps: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Fire TV, Linux, Chrome OS, and routers.

Number of devices: Unlimited number of devices.

Servers: Over 2,000 VPN servers in over 75 server locations.

Encryption and protocols: AES 256-bit end-to-end encryption and WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN, and IPSec protocols.

Data: You get unlimited data with IPVanish.

Features: IUP masking, no-logs policy, split tunneling,m kill switch, DNS leak protection, and automatic startup.

Customer support: 24/7 live chat, email, and some phone support.

Payment options: PayPal or credit card.

Pricing

  • IPVanish costs $10.99 per month

  • $10 per month billed quarterly

  • $3.19 per month on the one-year plan

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Visit IPVanish 
 

6. Private Internet Access (Great NordVPN substitute for streaming services)

Private Internet Access is another great and user-friendly VPN service provider and a solid substitute for NordVPN for streaming content.

Private Internet Access is best for:

  • Personal use

  • Streaming services like Hulu or Netflix

  • Online privacy

Features

Apps: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Apple iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Consoles, Smart TV.

Number of devices: Secure up to 10m devices at the same time.,

Servers: Fast RAM-only servers in over 80 countries. Among the fastest VPNs with 120 Gbps network connections.

Encryption and protocols: WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols on top of AES-256 encryption.

Data: Unlimited bandwidth.

Features: Open source VPN, no-logs policy, throttling prevention, split tunneling, malware blocker, ad blocker, dedicated IP address, and a kill switch.

Customer support: 24/7 live support from Private Internet Access, or PIA.

Payment options: Credit card, PayPal, Amazon, Google Play, Apple iTunes, crypto.

Pricing

  • IPVanish costs $10.99 per month

  • $10 per month billed quarterly

  • $3.19 per month on the one-year plan

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Visit IPVanish 
 

7. ProtonVPN (Good NordVPN competitor if you want fast speeds)

Next up is ProtonVPN, a Swiss-based company. ProtonVPN is a top competitor to NordVPN if you are looking for the fastest VPN.

ProtonVPN is best for:

  • Speedy internet connections

  • Secure online activity

Features

Apps: Linux, Windows, Mac, Android, iOS.

Number of devices: 10 simultaneous connections.

Servers: 1,700 VPN servers in over 60 countries.

Encryption and protocols: AES-256 Swiss privacy and OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard protocol.

Data: Unlimited bandwidth.

Features: No logging, ad-blocker, VPN accelerator, stealth mode, DNS protection, kill switch, Tor over VPN, P2P support, enhanced wi-fi protection.

Customer support: Email via Twitter or a customer support form.

Payment options:  Credit or debit card, PayPal, Bitcoin, cash or bank transfer.

Pricing

  • ProtonVPN offers a free version

  • $9.99 per month

  • $5.99 per month for a year plan 

  • $4.99 per month for a two-year plan

Visit ProtonVPN
 

8. CyberGhost VPN (Top NordVPN alternative for gaming)

CyberGhost is a well-regarded VPN provider and the top alternative to NordVPN for use with game consoles like PlayStation and Xbox.

CyberGhost is best for:

  • Gaming

  • Streaming

  • Secure VPN

Features

Apps: Linux, Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Apple TV, Smart TV, Amazon Fire, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4 and 5, and more.

Number of devices: Up to 7b devices with CyberGhost.

Servers: Almost 7,000 global VPN servers.

Encryption and protocols: AES 256-bit encryption with OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols.

Data: Unlimited web traffic.

Features: IP leak protection, kill switch, DNS leak protection, strict no logs, ID guard monitoring.

Customer support: 24/7 liver support.

Payment options: PayPal, Bitcoin, credit card.

Pricing

CyberGhost is: 

  • $12.99 per month
  • $6.99 per month billed every six months

  • $2.03 per month billed every two years

  • 45-day money-back guarantee

Visit CyberGhost VPN 
 

9. PureVPN (Good NordVPN alternative if you use Chrome or Firefox)

PureVPN is one of the best VPN services for use as an extension, especially as a Chrome or Firefox VPN extension.

PureVPN is best for:

  • Chrome extension

  • Firefox extension

  • High-speeds

  • Streaming like Netflix

Features

Apps: Extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and apps for Windows, Macd, Linux, Chromebook, iOS, Android, Huawei, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Samsung TV, Xbox, Playstation and routers, among others.

Number of devices: Up to 10 simultaneous devices.

Servers: Over 6,500 servers in over 79 countries. 

Encryption and protocols: AES 256-bit encryption with OpenVPN/IKEv2, OpenVPN, and IPSec/IKEv2 VPN protocols.

Data: PureVPN offers unlimited bandwidth.

Features: Smart server selection, one-click protection, leak-proof privacy, bypass firewalls, IP masking, kill switch, P2P file transfer, dedicated IP address.

Customer support: 24/7 support with live chat and email, as well as a full knowledge base. 

Payment options: Debit and credit card, PayPal, Paymentwall, Coingate.

Pricing

  • PureVPN is $10.95 per month

  • $3.25 per month billed annually 

  • $1.41 per month billed every five years

  • 31-day money-back guarantee

Visit PureVPN 
 

10. Windscribe (Great NordVPN replacement for ad blocking)

Our final leading VPN alternative to Nord is Windscribe, a great NordVPN replacement if you want to block ads, malware, and viruses.

Windscribe is best for:

  • Ad blocker

  • Block trackers

  • Malware and virus protection

  • Private internet traffic

Features

Apps: Chrome, Firefox, Mac, Windows, Linux, iP{hone, Android, FireTV, Huawei, Routers.

Number of devices: Unlimited devices.

Servers: Winscribe has high-speed VPN servers in over 60 countries and 100 cities.

Encryption and protocols: AES-256 cipher with SHA512 auth and a 4096-bit RSA key for desktop, and AES_128_GCM cipher for browser extensions. 

Data: Unlimited data.

Features: No logs, static IPs, port forwarding, split tunnels, double VPN, ad blocking, timezone changer, cookie tracker, IP rotator, or WebRTC leak protection.

Customer support: Windscribe has several self-help and technical support options.

Payment options: Bitcoin, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Paymentwall.

Pricing

  • Windscribe costs $9 per month

  • $5.75 per month billed annually 

  • There are also options to build a plan starting at $0

Visit Windscribe 

 

Which of the alternatives to NordVPN is a good choice for you?

To conclude, every VPN provider here is a great alternative to Noird, depending on your needs and desires. Overall, it should be of little surprise that ExpressVPN takes the top spot, while Tunnelbear is a leading NordVPN replacement for free. We trust you to make the right decision.

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